Wave of Patriotism Sparks Discussion of ROTC

Author: Nicha Rakpanichmanee Staff Writer

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, a new wave of patriotism has sparked proposals to revive the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program on many college and university campuses. Here at Middlebury College, the main question appears to be whether an ROTC education belongs at a liberal arts institution.



The Benefits of an ROTC Education



Josh Broder '01.5 is one of three Middlebury students who are enrolled in the ROTC program at the University of Vermont (UVM). Broder has just completed ROTC with a four-year academic scholarship. A history major, he awaits both a mid-year Middlebury graduation and an army commission as Second Lieutenant this February.

"ROTC has really rounded out my education and helped to bust the 'Midd bubble,'" said Broder. "Undergraduate education in this country forces you to specialize and is based on personal achievement — projects and tests that you do by yourself. ROTC focuses on team work. We each get assigned some sort of position, and we are graded not just individually but on how the group performs. The framework is like the real world. ROTC helped fill in that missing gap."

"Not to say that there aren't those opportunities here at Middlebury," he continued. "People can join athletic teams and do extracurricular activities. But in ROTC, what you learn in the classroom is applied under strenuous conditions."

In addition, Broder noted that ROTC students and faculty come from "diverse socioeconomic backgrounds." He cited a classmate who is a Gulf War veteran and his military science professors who are all either active duty officers or senior non-command officers.

"They draw on this in class," continued Broder. "Once we were talking about abstract theory of creating an ethical environment, and my professor said, 'When I was in Bosnia, we had this dilemma, and this is how I dealt with it.' It was very helpful."

Director of Public Affairs Phil Benoit also participated in ROTC while he was in college in the early 1960's. He initially joined because "it seemed like a pretty good option at the time — it was either that or get drafted." He added that the two-year commission he received upon graduation was "enriching." Benoit even served an extra year, although he never intended to be in the military for a career.

"I had an opportunity to do things at a young age that I wouldn't otherwise have had the opportunity to do," said Benoit. "I was running a radio network, second in command, in Europe. Before that I was with a staff of 15 people. I was in charge of a pretty big organization, and I was 23 years old. It gave me a grounding of experience in leadership and management."

"Also, it allowed me the flexibility and freedom to take a few risks along the way — risks that I might not have taken if I had a job — and to be in parts of the world I wouldn't have seen otherwise," Benoit added. "It was a whole different aspect of living before settling into a career path. Of course, there was an element of danger, but it was a good experience that I wish many others had the opportunity to do."

Broder recently submitted his top choice for a military intelligence position in Japan but is waiting to hear back about his assignment. ROTC graduates lead various types of soldier units, including medical, aviation, intelligence, armor, infantry and military police.

Executive Director of Career Services Jaye Roseborough agreed that there are several benefits of an ROTC education, such as scholarships for college and professional school tuition, a job upon graduation and training and advancement for a possible career. However, she noted "a commitment for service upon graduation even though a student may have changed his or her mind about future career direction" as a potential disadvantage. Roseborough also pointed out the challenges of the extra time commitment for training during the school year and in the summer, as well as the lengthy commute Middlebury students must complete to participate in UVM's ROTC program.

UVM's ROTC has nonetheless made accommodations for off-campus students. By his senior year, Broder no longer had to travel three times a week to UVM because of an official ROTC reduction the number of contact hours that dropped training on technical skills like infantry and tactics that can be learned on the job. Consequently, Broder commuted only once a week and was allowed to do physical training at the Middlebury gym rather than at the UVM facility.

Noting the large time commitment, Broder commented, "I don't feel my grades suffered because of ROTC. It was something I enjoyed."

"Our first goal is for every student to get a 3.0 or higher," said UVM Military Studies Professor Lieutenant Colonel Albert Turgeon. "We prefer students to go off to other classes. Our second goal is for varsity athletes to do well and not worry about ROTC. ROTC will take a backseat to athletics, and some other students are more interested in achieving in other extracurricular activities," he continued. "They just need to demonstrate to us officer-like qualities and leadership in other activities, whether it be president of a class or student government."

For Broder, the advantages of an ROTC education outweigh the disadvantages. "A four-year degree while training for ROTC is an especially good way to anchor future military officers in civil society," said Broder. "It prevents militarism, which I think is very healthy for the officer corps."

Broder said he preferred ROTC above other options for military involvement — attending a military academy, for example, or taking additional courses at officer candidate schools after college graduation.

"This is the best opportunity for civilian and academic education to influence ways many officers think," continued Broder. "These are the people who have the power to prevent war crimes and avoid excesses in other types of conflict."

"The army needs more officers from schools like Middlebury," Turgeon added. "We need a diverse and competent body of workers to make the organization a success."



ROTC in the Anti-War Era



Despite its educational and vocational benefits, ROTC disappeared from Middlebury's campus in 1976. The program used to be mandatory for first-year and sophomore men. In fact, Middlebury housed its own department of military science, according to David Stameshkin's 1996 book, "The Strength of the Hills: Middlebury College 1915-1990."

During the Korean War in 1952, Middlebury College President Samuel Stratton convinced the army to establish an ROTC program on campus. The two-year program satisfied part of the military requirement and steadied Middlebury's male student enrollment. By 1965, however, Middlebury students had joined the national anti-war movement. That spring, about 40 students threatened to demonstrate against the College's mandatory ROTC curriculum. The administration persuaded them otherwise, with the assurance that changes in ROTC requirements were being considered.

Much controversy followed, and in 1969, the faculty voted 53 to 51 in favor of reducing ROTC's role on campus. The College department was reduced to voluntary program status. ROTC courses would no longer grant academic credits, and ROTC staff would no longer have faculty status or voting rights. Over the next seven years, participation declined, and ROTC eventually ceased to exist.



An ROTC Education at

Middlebury Today



The current level of participation is not enough to reinstitute ROTC at Middlebury, said Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson.

"In the past, we have talked about holding some classes at Middlebury, taught by UVM faculty," explained Hanson. "However, there are only a few students who participate, and I think for budget reasons it was not feas
ible for UVM to send faculty down here."

Moreover, Hanson said that many UVM ROTC courses do not qualify for Middlebury credit because "they are not liberal arts courses."

While the definition of a "liberal arts" education appears incongruous with an ROTC education, some, like Broder, advocate combining the two.

"I think that it would be wonderful to have ROTC at Middlebury," said Peter Mancini '02. "This is a liberal arts education, which aims at educating the entire person. It's important to have that kind of person in the military."

Mancini also suggested that the presence of ROTC would remind students, "even those who aren't interested in joining," of the serious national and worldwide issues. "People always complain that Middlebury students are out of touch with the outside world," added Mancini. "This notion of sacrifice isn't something we think about a lot. After what has happened, having ROTC on campus could be a bit of a wake-up call."

"I don't think anyone would deny that this is an elite place," continued Mancini. "I have sensed some anti-military sentiment here, and it's kind of offensive to me. Frankly, people should not live the life of the party and let others who are less fortunate go bite the brunt in combat for the economic interests that benefit the people who go to Middlebury and their parents."

"I don't see how [ROTC and a liberal arts education] can be combined," said Rebecca Adams '03. "If I wanted to get an education that teaches me about discipline and all of that, I'd say, go to West Point or something. I think of Middlebury as a peaceful environment. Having ROTC on campus would create a kind of militant background."

Even with patriotism on the rise nationwide, Adams commented, "After Sept. 11, especially after all this business in Afghanistan, it's even more important for us to question the military and why we go to war. I don't think militarizing our students is the answer right now."

In addition, the question of homosexuals in the military complicates the debate on reinstituting an ROTC program. Or, according to some, simplifies it.

"Middlebury College has a non-discrimination policy that conflicts with the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy of the military," explained Hanson. "Until the time that their policy and our policy are not in conflict, I don't believe that we would change our current practice."

"Clearly the Armed Forces discriminates against openly gay and lesbian students," added Roseborough. "This is why CSO does not sponsor the military on campus as an employment recruiter."

"In a broad context of pros and cons, it may well be that that might outweigh the advantages to the program," said Benoit. "If so, so be it. Whatever the outcome, I think it would still be useful to have the discussion."